Romantic spots to pop the question abound in the western North Carolina mountains, from remote spots with fabulous views to the estate known as "America's Largest Home." Selecting the best has to include your personal perspective on what makes a proposal spot just the right place to ask for your beloved's hand in marriage. If it fits your style, combine your proposal with a weekend at a romantic hideaway.

Blowing Rock

Legends with a common theme swirl around the Blowing Rock overlooking Johns River Gorge. A young Indian couple came to the rock and the brave jumped, either because the maiden spurned him or because he was torn between love and duty to his tribe. The maiden pleaded with the gods, and the brave rose from the gorge on the wind. Naturally, they lived happily ever after. An overlook at the rock provides views of the gorge and the mile-high swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain. The Westglow Resort and Spa (westglowresortandspa.com), the elegant former home of artist Elliot Daingerfield, offers a romance package that includes roses, champagne and sweet treats delivered to your room.

The Biltmore

The Biltmore (biltmore.com) estate in Asheville provides a fairy tale backdrop for a proposal. Modeled after a 16th century French chateau, the estate has 250 rooms, including 34 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms. The grounds, designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, contain thousands of acres of gardens, forest and open parkland. The Biltmore romance package includes lodging at the Inn on Biltmore Estate, sparkling wine made on-site, breakfast and a tour of the winery. Book a private, 90-minute carriage ride through the grounds or stroll to the statue of Diana with the Blue Ridge Mountains as the backdrop for your proposal.

The Headwaters of the Catawba

The Catawba River tumbles over spectacular waterfalls in the Black Mountains range of the Blue Ridge Mountains outside Old Fort, North Carolina. Most of the trail to the river's headwaters is a gentle uphill hike along the bank. Deep woods, the occasional ruined homestead and large, flat boulders provide romantic spots for a proposal if you're not up to the strenuous last part of the hike to the upper falls. Private, remote campsites at Curtis Creek Campground in the Pisgah National Forest (fs.usda.gov) overlook the mountain stream as it flows over rocks and waterfalls. The campground's dirt road winds up the mountainside to the Blue Ridge Parkway, leading to Mount Mitchell, another romantic spot for a proposal.

Point Lookout

If you and your sweetie are into cycling or railroad history, the Point Lookout Trail outside the village of Black Mountain provides long range views of North Carolina's spectacular Royal Gorge. The paved trail follows an old highway right-of-way and offers glimpses of the tunnels built to facilitate rail traffic through the mountains. The Inn on Mill Creek (innonmillcreek.com) has rooms in the main house and in a lakeside house with a deck overlooking the water. Rooms outfitted with king- or queen-sized beds have Wi-Fi, jetted tubs and cable television. Roads and trails lead from the inn to the Point Lookout Trail, Heartbreak Ridge and Kitsuma, a rugged trail popular with mountain bikers.

About the Author

Meg Jernigan has been writing for more than 30 years. She specializes in travel, cooking and interior decorating. Her offline credits include copy editing full-length books and creating marketing copy for nonprofit organizations. Jernigan attended George Washington University, majoring in speech and drama.